How to watch

Starting as a sharp parody of late-1990s slasher films, the Scary Movie series grew into a sprawling comedic franchise that skewered nearly every major horror and pop culture trend of its era. The first two films, helmed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, established the irreverent tone, while the later entries under David Zucker took things in an even more absurdist direction. Whether you're a fan of the originals or just discovering the series, knowing the watch order helps you follow recurring characters and inside jokes.

🕐 Release Order

Release order is the only real way to watch Scary Movie, as the films follow the same core characters through escalating parody situations and several recurring gags evolve over the series.

1. Scary Movie (2000)
2. Scary Movie 2 (2001)
3. Scary Movie 3 (2003)
4. Scary Movie 4 (2006)
5. Scary Movie 5 (2013)

Each film is also largely self-contained as a parody anthology, meaning you can enjoy most entries on their own — but the character arcs of Cindy Campbell and others reward watching in sequence.

📖 Story Chronology

Scary Movie follows a mostly linear narrative through recurring characters, so the chronological order matches release order exactly. There are no prequels or flashback-heavy entries to complicate things.

1. Scary Movie (2000)
2. Scary Movie 2 (2001)
3. Scary Movie 3 (2003)
4. Scary Movie 4 (2006)
5. Scary Movie 5 (2013)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Watch in release order. The original Scary Movie is essential viewing — it's one of the most quotable comedies of the 2000s and sets the template for everything that follows. Scary Movie 3 is widely considered the creative peak of the later entries, and Scary Movie 5 is a significant departure with an almost entirely new cast. If you only have time for a couple, start with 1 and 3.

🔗 Related Guides

• Scream Watch OrderGuide
• Halloween Watch OrderGuide
• Paranormal Activity Watch OrderGuide

Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!